Saturday, December 5, 2015

Scour garage sales and resale shops for the perfect book to exchange. This isn't a normal book exchange, so don't even think of showing up with a regular book. Find a Terribly Terrific Title. They're out there, believe me. Check out my Pinterest Board: Terribly Terrific Titles for ideas. If you still have trouble finding a book, contact me. I have quite a collection...

So, harness your elephant and drag him along to Linda's, 11:00 a.m. December 12. Bring food!

Wishing you and yours a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 20, 2015

Scour garage sales and resale shops for the perfect book to exchange. This isn't a normal book exchange, so don't even think of showing up with a regular book. Find a Terribly Terrific Title. They're out there, believe me. Check out my Pinterest Board: Terribly Terrific Titles for ideas. If you still have trouble finding a book, contact me. I have quite a collection...

So, harness your elephant and drag him along to Linda's, 11:00 a.m. December 12. Bring food!

Monday, November 16, 2015

If you missed the last meeting, you missed a great talk by Anita Onarecker Wood about sharing our stories--which, as Janice said, was also a great lesson in POV. Anita told the 90 Minutes in Heaven story from the perspective of herself and her late husband, Dick Onarecker. Some things are different from what Don Piper (90 Minutes in Heaven) told, but that's the point of Point of View, right? Everyone sees things differently, remembers them differently, interprets them differently. Great lesson for writers.

Next time we get together will be for our Christmas Party and Book Exchange at Linda Kozar's house. We're meeting on December 12 around 11 at her house--and she says she'll tell those of us who don't know where it is how to get there. Bring food and a book for the exchange and expect some insane fun. I've never been before, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Crystal Barnes announced her new release, Win, Love, or Draw, book one in her Marriage & Mayhem series. She designed the cover herself (great job!), formatted it, and got it out there. Janice gave it a wonderful endorsement, not surprising. Crystal is, after all, an award winning author. You know this is going to be good!

Annette O'Harementioned that her new one will be coming out through Pelican Book Group in February. A historical romance. Can't wait!

Last but not least, remember the Ladies' Getaway Retreat coming up in January. Lisa Gefridesmentioned it before, the writers retreat and getaway at Frontier Camp near Crockett, Texas. This sounds like a terrific deal and an even better opportunity to spend some quiet, quality time with our manuscripts! According to the site:

Standard Stay: Friday, January 29 - Sunday, January 31, 2016 $109 per person, including 5 delicious meals, and 2 nights of lodging. First meal is Friday supper and ends with brunch on Sunday.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

When I first discovered Anita would be speaking to our group, I wasn't sure who she was. I'd heard of 90 Minutes in Heaven, but I wasn't as familiar with the story as others in this group may have been. Until recently, my familiarity with it came primarily from publicity for the movie.

Then, Friday, October 30, I went to the East Texas Christian Writers Conference at ETBU in Marshall. First on my to-do list was a course on dialogue that Cecil Murphey taught. You know Cec--the one chosen to write 90 Minutes in Heaven.

That evening, I got to sit with Cec, Twila Belk, and others as Don Piper, the keynote speaker, presented clips from the movie, 90 Minutes in Heaven. I bet you know Don Piper, too--the guy who actually lived 90 minutes in Heaven.

I hope everyone can make it this coming Saturday, November 14 (a week earlier than our usual meeting) to hear this amazing woman.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Other News:

NaNoWriMo is in full swing. We're looking forward to hearing how our participants are doing. Hope to hear some uplifting stories of productivity and creativity.

This from Linda Kozar:

Scour garage sales and resale shops for the perfect book to exchange. This isn't a normal book exchange, so don't even think of showing up with a regular book. Find a Terribly Terrific Title. They're out there, believe me. Check out my Pinterest Board: Terribly Terrific Titles for ideas. If you still have trouble finding a book, contact me. I have quite a collection...

Saturday, October 31, 2015

What is it about us as individuals that other people like? Our similarities? Perhaps. But I believe our differences are definitely key, and it's that key, I believe, that can open doors for God to use us in the way He desires.

Howdy, y'all. Crystal Barnes here. This is my first time ever on the Writers On The Storm blog. (Don't look at my knees knocking. Look at my face or the red hair, which is probably in two braids since I'm gonna be looking like Farmer Jones' wife tonight.) Anyway, when Linda asked me to share with y'all, I got to thinking "What on earth do I know about Marketing or Branding that's worth sharing?" This is what this country-bumpkin came up with, and I hope it helps save someone some time and effort.

I spent a number of years in college earning a degree in Computing Science. (And before you ask, no computers do not rank as my favoritest thing in the world. I'm just not afraid to use them. ;) ) One thing I learned is consistency counts, especially when it comes to designing stuff for users. Oh, and making stuff idiot-proof, but that's whole 'nother lesson all on its own. :)

I figured I'd take a few key things I've learned to make an acronym that might help y'all in Branding, especially when it comes to web design (or blogging if that is your cup of tea--or coffee if you're Linda Yezak. :) )

U - YoU

Be you! When someone lands on your home page, they should automatically know what your site is about and what you write at just a glance. Don't be afraid to show that part of you that makes you different/unique.

N - Nice

Be nice to your users/followers. Make links, tabs, and newsletter sign-ups easy to find. Be consistent on where you place items from page to page. The more time someone has to take to search for something, the more likely they are to give up and move on to something else. (Sorry, but such is the state of our microwave society.) Make the page easy on the eyes---in other words, don't be afraid of white space. :)

I - Interface

This is another place where consistency really counts! This is how you build your brand. Use the same banner images on your website and newsletter and blog and even Facebook. Give them a feel that transcends wherever they find you online. And let it reflect what you write! Me, I write Inspirational Western Romances. You'll notice a lot of my stuff has a country feel or wood background (yep, even my book covers now have this). I've got a Wanted poster design (with my picture) that stays at the top of my website and has taken up residence on my newsletter. Extract you and put it in everything you do. :)

Q - Quiet

This is more a trend of the past, but I'll say it just in case the thought crosses your mind. Don't add music or sound that starts the moment your page loads. This girl will mute or close your page quicker than you can blink, and I doubt I'm the only one. Videos are great, but let us decide when to play them. :)

U - User-focused

Remember this site might be about you, but it's not about you! LOL. Yes, I know that's the biggest contrapositive statement ever. Nevertheless, it's about your user(follower). Ask yourself, "Why would someone visit my site? What do I offer?" Books? Great! But, honey, they can find that on Amazon. Do you blog tidbits, offer recipes, bonus features, behind the scenes looks at your stories? Be creative in what you offer. Me, I love taking pictures on my research trips, so I've opted to share those and I'm only getting started. Karen Witemeyer has a great website and makes an awesome example of a reader-focused author page.

E - Engaging

Be engaging. Keep your site fresh with new content so folks will keep wanting to come back and hang around your porch.

Y'all have questions I didn't cover? (Now, I ain't guaranteeing I have the answers, but I'm willing to give it a shot.)

Do you have any tips or tricks you've found helpful that you could share?

Crystal L Barnes is an award-winning author, who also happens to be a born-n-raised Texan. She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), her local ACFW chapter, 19th Century Writers, and her local church. She has a degree in Computing Science because she loves putting things into their proper place, and she enjoys writing because she gets to share her love of old-fashioned things and the Lord. When she's not writing or reading, Crystal enjoys knitting, sewing, or crocheting while watching old movies/sitcoms. Find out more about Crystal at crystal-barnes.com or connect with her on Facebook, Google+, or Pinterest.

Her debut novel Win, Love, or Drawreleases Nov. 14, 2015Catherine McGarrett is a strong woman. Life in Texas demands such. For five years, she has built a growing horse ranch while praying for the return of the one man who stole her heart and shattered it in a million pieces when he left. Now he’s back.
Samuel McGarrett rides into Cater Springs, Texas toting two six-shooters and too many scars. The trouble and pain from the past erupts around the couple. And not just in their marriage.
Can Sam win
Catherine’s trust?
Will their love survive? Or will his final draw be his last?

Saturday, October 24, 2015

If you missed the last meeting, you missed an invigorating discussion with Judy about branding and platform building. The two go hand in hand, because when you brand yourself, "you're trying to interact only with your readers, not the whole world." She reminds us not to try to "do it all" pertaining to social media: "God didn't call you to be overworked, flustered, and short-tempered," which is a natural result of trying to keep up on all the social sites, plus blogging, plus writing.

"Write your best book," she says. "Readers don't care who published a book as long as it's good." The cover is a contract with the reader; it should rightfully reflect our genre. Brand is established by both the author's name and genre. Whenever you think "horror," Stephen King comes to mind--and when you think "Stephen King," horror is the first thing that comes to mind.

Judy presented a graph for us:

To the left is the circle "The Author and his/her books," in which she wrote the reminder to be authentic--"be the real, true you." Also, write your best book: great idea, well-written, edited and revised.

To the right is the circle "Your Potential Readers," complete with the reminder that not everyone in the world is your reader, and you should identify and target only those who would appreciate your genre.

The intersection between the circles is your brand, "where books, authors, and readers meet." Our goal is to grow our readership by remaining true to our brands and creating relationships with our readers online through social media, in our communities through churches, clubs, workshops, book signings, etc.

Loved learning from Judy, such a gracious lady.

Reminder: We're meeting a week early next month on November 14. Our guest speaker is the author of 90 Minutes in Heaven and Divine Appointment, Anita Onarecker Wood. Hope to see everyone there!

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Sandie Bricker answered my plea for a post about blogging, bless her sweet heart and soul, and I'm excited about what she sent me. We're sitting in on a round-table discussion that includes some of the best names in the business.

The topic of BRANDING has been a hot-button issue, so I’m so honored to have some of the most respected people in the industry sitting down with me for a candid discussion on the topic.

Barbara Cameron is the author of more than 30 books – fiction and non-fiction. She is the winner of various romance inspirational awards and was the first winner of RWA’s Golden Heart Award. She makes her home in Florida.

Author Jenny B. Jones is known for writing books “with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy.” Her novels include the Katie Parker Production series, A Charmed Life series, and her contemporary romance, Just Between You and Me. When she isn’t writing, she teaches high school in her home state of Arkansas.

Tamela Hancock Murray joined The Steve Laube Agency after serving as an agent with Hartline Literary Agency for a decade. A best-selling, award-winning author of twenty novels, novellas, and nonfiction books, Tamela brings the unique perspective of a writer to her role as literary agent. She makes her home in Northern Virginia.

Since 2001, Wynn-Wynn Media has been providing full-service publicity campaigns for the best in Christian publishing, representing the finest books, authors, and publishers there are. At Wynn-Wynn Media,Tyson and Jeane Wynn represent only those books and authors they believe in. Wynn-Wynn Media formulates strategic publicity plans that target both traditional and emerging media. Bringing those plans to life with persistence, determination, and old-fashioned hard work is the hallmark of Wynn-Wynn Media.

COFFEE CHAT:

SANDIE: The coffee is served, and all of the key people are here. So let’s talk, ladies and gentlemen. Um, gentleman. When I was a publicist for actors, I had to deal with the issue of typecasting on a pretty regular basis. But around the time that Always the Baker Never the Bride was released by Abingdon Press, the term branding entered my radar for the first time as an author. My dream of writing suspense was shoved to the sideline by a successful string of romantic comedies from Summerside and Abingdon.

Jen and Barbara, I imagine you’ve had to deal with it fairly often as well since you’re known for fairly clear genres – at least, at the moment. What’s the down side for you?

BARBARA: I think branding may be a good way for someone to be quickly identified, as in, “Oh, Suzy Author, she’s the one who writes Amish books, right?” But if anyone – from reader to editor – pigeonholes a writer into just that one genre, I think they’re doing a disservice.

JENNY: One downside of the branding issue, for me, has been readers not being totally aware that I write anything but YA. I've seen bloggers mention one of my women's rom-coms and call it a YA. Sometimes cover models can look kind of young, I guess.

SANDIE: Tamela, you come from a unique perspective as both an agent AND a writer. How do you, as an agent, view the importance of branding your clients? Do you plan a career path with a brand in mind?

TAMELA: I think branding is important because you don't want to confuse your readers. Once an author becomes established, readers look for certain types of books from that author, and could be disappointed when they find they have bought something else. A good comparison is music. If you are a fan of a dance music group, wouldn't you be disappointed by a recording featuring nothing but ballads? No matter how good the ballads are, they are still slow grooves and not the upbeat tunes you were expecting. In my view, giving readers what they expect from you, but still keeping stories fresh, is the best path.

SANDIE: What about the perspective of the book publicist? How big a role does an author's specific branding play in your strategy for helping them promote their book?

TYSON: We always consider an author's branding in any campaign we do. If he or she is a new author, we want to help them begin a brand, along with promoting the specific book, of course. If they are further along the continuum and have a few books under their belt, we’ll look at helping them sharpen their brand and messaging. Our goal is always to introduce new readers to the books we represent, but we also really want them to get a sense of knowing the author so that they are consistent readers of future works the author produces.

JEANE: As far as promoting a particular book, what we try to do through our campaigns is to connect a new title continually with their branding message, genre, etc. We have been doing fiction publicity for a long time now, and in the last few years, especially, it has become vitally important not only to build an author’s brand but also to maintain it. It’s a waste of effort and lost opportunity if authors don’t use the cheap and, in most cases, free tools available to them to reinforce their brand. We talk a lot about author care, and via modern tools such as social media, authors can regularly engage their fans, which constantly goes to establishing their brand.

JENNY: I think readers want to know what they're getting when they pick up a Sandie Bricker or Nora Roberts book. But at the same time, writers thrive on being challenged and pushed creatively, so sometimes you just have to write something a little different. For me, it's important that my brand isn't too narrow.

BARBARA: And there are many aspects of that one type of genre that make a writer able to write successfully for another. What makes you successful in one area of writing can often make you successful in another. I hope I’ve established myself as someone who a reader thinks of as a good writer, not just a good Amish writer. I absolutely do want to write for markets other than Amish, just as I wrote for them before I wrote Amish novels.

SANDIE: I think it might be slightly easier for you to do that than for Jen or me because humor is one thing that readers don’t want to skimp on, if you know what I mean. For my Quilts of Love book for Abingdon, I told the story of an ovarian cancer survivor meeting up with a widower and young child who have lost someone to the same disease. That’s a pretty serious thread, but I know my readers will come looking for a healthy dose of humor as well, and I don’t want to take the chance of letting them down.

JENNY: I have a few characteristics that are true no matter what genre I'm writing in: romance, humor, strong female leads. If I woke up tomorrow and decided to write a historical, that would still be true.

SANDIE: Tamela, in your opinion, is there a point in a writer's career when they no longer have to think about staying within the brand?

TAMELA: I don't think so. Consider that Nora Roberts writes under different names to distinguish one type of book from another. However, few authors earn the cachet to write as "Big Name Author writing as Pen Name."

SANDIE: Good point.

TAMELA: That's one reason why it's important for authors to be passionate about the type of books they are writing, because those blessed enough to be recognized by top publishers and awarded good contracts will want to keep that passion alive for the long term. Just as you will grow and change over the course of maintaining key personal relationships, you can grow your writing and stories within that initial passion.

SANDIE: Tyson and Jeane, let’s hear more from you on your take since you’re the professionals on the subject.

JEANE: As publicists, we love branding. It is something that we promote, work with, or do every day. Branding is very necessary with fiction authors and even more so as the fiction market becomes more and more competitive due to the increasing numbers of quality books being produced. For example, Brandilyn Collins is known by her Seatbelt Suspense and Terri Blackstock writes Up All Night fiction, so even though they both write suspense, the branding really enables both of those suspense authors to carry their own identity. And whether an author has an official “tag line” or has a more informal brand, they should never be limited by that. Take Liz Curtis Higgs. She was mostly known for her non-fiction Bad Girls of the Bible books when she asked her publisher to let her write Scottish historical fiction, which we’re sure they’re very glad they did. Of course, her previous fans were a built-in market for her new books, so there are always opportunities to expand within your brand.

TYSON: With all the talk of platform these days, it’s always a plus to take an existing potential market to a publisher when hoping they’ll publish your book. Branding can help to build that platform, which certainly is no guarantee of a publishing success, but it can help decision-makers as they decide whose book they want to take a chance on.

JENNY: I like switching back and forth from YA to adult rom-com because it gives me a break from teen land or a break from writing about a grown-up with lots of responsibilities. I think to write in more than one genre, you need to either be a really good marketer or write more than one book a year in each genre. And when you figure out how to do that, let me know.

SANDIE: When I had the day job, that was my goal too. But now that I’m writing full time, limiting myself to one book a year just isn’t feasible for me.

BARBARA: I have published many times in non-fiction articles and books, and romances for the secular market. I wrote those before writing Amish so I don’t know if there would be challenges now. But I’d have to think that someone considering non-Amish work would see my success with my Amish work as helping, not hurting me.

SANDIE: When discussing this topic, I often think about an actor I used to know in Los Angeles. He left the steady paycheck and sort of stratosphere kind of notoriety of the soap opera he was on, and ended up coming back a year or two later. When I asked him about it, he said that no one wanted to see him for anything other than that character he’d made famous. Meg Ryan had the same challenge when she branched out of the cute little romantic comedy heroines she made famous. Tamela, do you think it's the same with readers?

TAMELA: That's a tough question that I don't believe has a one-size-fits-all answer. I've spoken to readers who say, "I loved every book by So-and-So-Author, but when some of her stories took on fantasy/suspense/mystery/whatever elements, I didn't like those books as much and I stopped reading her." At the same time, another portion of the author's fans may love the new elements and see them as growth, and will stay with the author no matter what. In any career, change is risky. It's best for authors wanting to move into a new category to discuss their desires with their agents and publishers. Everyone needs to work together to weigh the risks and rewards to decide the best career path for the author.

SANDIE: You make a good point. When I was contracted to do a couple of romantic comedies for Moody’s River North fiction line, as I got to know my editor, she and I had several conversations about the future. I told her about a couple of suspense novels I published early on in my career with Avalon Books, and I said that most publishers want to see rom-com from me since that’s where I’ve made a mark, so to speak. I came away feeling like any type of change had to be approached with real caution. I have some fantastic and loyal readers, and I’m all about giving them what they want and keeping them happy in return for the loyalty they've shown me thus far.

JENNY: I think your reader gets to know you, know your style. If it works for them, they'll pick up your other titles to get more of that brand we mentioned. I was an established YA writer when I put out my first "big girl" romance. In hindsight, I'm not sure what we could've done to establish that I was working in both genres and not just one.

SANDIE: Tyson and Jeane, this one is for you. How does an author's brand specifically assist you in publicizing their work and their name?

TYSON: Let’s answer this in reverse. We can definitely see when failing to capitalize on an author’s brand has hurt them. Unfortunately, we have worked with authors who have, for whatever reason, not used the tools available to them to maintain their brand and engage their readers. In the end, they were disappointed that more people were not clamoring to read their book, but they were firm in their commitment that they just didn’t like Facebook and Twitter. While authors shouldn’t live online 24/7, it’s also a mistake to fully refuse to use a technological advance to your benefit. Moderation in all things applies to more than food.

JEANE: And if an author has been well branded, it does help with our campaign in that we can build upon that foundation with each successive title rather than repeatedly laying the groundwork over and over. If they have yet to develop a brand, and it often develops fairly organically, we spend time helping to establish their brand while publicizing their specific book. The two go hand-in-hand.

TYSON: Words like branding are tossed about a lot in book marketing these days, but it really is up to the author to research branding, know what it is, and work on how they can strategically place themselves. A big part of marketing lies in differentiating oneself from the competition (or colleagues who are friends) so that people have some accurate expectation when they pick up a certain author’s new book.

JEANE: While a publicist can help with brainstorming, it’s ultimately up to the author to do their own branding, which should span many years of a career. It will be the umbrella under which many books (and possibly several publicists) will eventually come.

SANDIE: Wow! This has been such a great discussion. I think it will bring value to anyone interested in books, whether they’re on the inside of the publishing business or on the fringes as a reader or reviewer.

Thank you to all of my special guests! Lots of good information and solid advice from professionals … and friends.

SANDRA D. BRICKER was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for 15+ years where she attended school to learn screenwriting and eventually taught the craft for several semesters. When she put Hollywood in the rearview mirror and headed across the country to take care of her mom until she passed away, she traded her scripts for books, and a best-selling, award-winning author of Live-Out-Loud fiction for the inspirational market was born. Sandie is best known for her Another Emma Rae Creation and Jessie Stanton series for Abingdon Press, and she was also recently named ACFW’s Editor of the Year for her work as managing editor of Bling!, an edgy romance imprint for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. “I believe in the power of the parable,” she says. “And I just love words in almost any form. From the assembling on the page to the polishing and perfecting, there’s almost nothing more powerful.”As an ovarian cancer survivor, Sandie also gears time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics and a cure.

Monday, October 12, 2015

For 25 years I was a journalist, then embarked on a journey as a small-business owner and author, thankful for the many readers and clients who have been part of that adventure. From growing up in government housing in Louisiana to having lunch at the White House with Nancy Reagan, my life’s been interesting. I’ve been chased by a monkey on my way to work, fished for piranha on the Amazon River and once got a black eye playing putt-putt golf. I’m a fan of porch swings and primitive antiques, have stacks of books in every room of the house and appreciate an ice-cold Diet Dr Pepper on my green kitchen couch.

Judy is the author of multiple fiction and nonfiction books. She loves writing and talking about writing, and we have the honor of her discussing her favorite subject with us this week. She'll be sharing about branding and writing a series. So, come join us for what promises to be a great learning experience!

Saturday, October 3, 2015

We're starting into a brand new month--the "post-conference highs" month. The conference always inspires us to reach our goals, always gives us ideas to chase, always gives us new friends to miss until next time. And sometimes we get a touch of post-conference blues. Best way to beat those blues is to join with your nearest local group!

Here's what's up with us:

Our beloved pres, Janice Thompson, sent everyone an email recently with the schedule of speakers and events for 2016. If you didn't get it, you can find it here on the WOTS blog (and if you didn't get it, then you need to update your email address! Send a note to our email address: wots.acfw@gmail.com). We're looking at an exciting list of events for the coming year. I hope everyone can attend as many of the events as they can. And I definitely hope I can attend more of them!

We also intend to send out a newsletter, beginning in January. Did you know that we have over 200 members? And did you know that only 75 members are in our Facebook Group? That's a whole chunk o' folks who don't know what's going on, so we're going to reach out to them.

Once a month, I'll send out notice about our upcoming speaker and events, and once a quarter, I'll send another that contains group news accumulated during that quarter. Which means I need your help! If you have a new release, if you've won an award or are a finalist in a contest, if you have a speaking engagement--if you have anything you want to brag about--please, send it to me (pprmint777@yahoo.com). I'll post your news here on the blog and send it out with our quarterly newsletter.

Special thanks goes out to Chief Blogger Wizard Crystal Barnes for setting up our new WOTS Speaker Bureau page. Currently we have only three speakers listed. If you're interested in having your name included on the list, please send me your information (pprmint777@yahoo.com). Follow the template on the page, and be sure to add your jpeg and links.

For the speaker page to be effective, we have to increase the blog's circulation. I'll be promoting that page through tweets and posts on various social sites and in our newsletter, but if you'd like to help, it's as simple as pushing one of the buttons at the bottom of the post--which is true of every page and post on our site.

Poke a button and share! We're in the recruiting business, and we'd like to recruit as many writers as possible who would be interested in joining us. We have benefits galore by belonging to this group--like-minded friends, informative speakers, people to help us celebrate both our big and little achievements. But, to be pragmatic if that helps, we're also potential readers, so the more there are of us, the better chance we have of sales and speaking engagements! Okay, yes, that sounds mercenary.

Moving on . . .

Donn Taylor, chief poet and mystery author, is speaking at the ETBU Writers Conference in Marshall, Texas, again this year. His topics: "Making Your Poems Different" and "Broader Horizons in Poetic Technique."

Registration is open for the two-day conference, which begins October 30th. Late fees don't kick in until the 20th. If you're going for the entire time, get your room reservations now. Apparently some other events in town are making the rooms book quickly.

Ane Mulligan, our illustrious zone leader, announced recently that she has now dipped her toes in the waters of hybrid writing with her short story, Way Down Upon a Suwanee Murder, for sale on Amazon for 99c. Ken Raney did her cover--as he has all her covers--and he did a great job. She has a new release in her Chapel Springs series coming in December. Keep an eye out!

And finally ~~~

Y'all make plans to join us and guest speaker Julie Christie October 17!